Friday, April 26, 2013

" SFP Pushes El Materi Issue To Wall Street"

Tunisia in Spat With Seychelles Over Ben Ali Son-in-Law

By Margaret Coker

Tunisia’s government is locked in a diplomatic battle with the tiny African island nation of Seychelles in hopes of winning the extradition of one of its most-wanted men, the flamboyant, jet-setting son-in-law of deposed leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The son-in-law is Saker el-Materi, a man reputed to keep pet tigers and to enjoy fine cigars, and whose wealth increased dramatically after marrying the former president’s daughter in the mid-2000s, a process that Tunisian judicial authorities allege was due to corruption and abuse of power.

Like most of the former ruling family, Mr. Materi fled Tunisia in early 2011 before public protests overthrew Mr. Ben Ali, yet he did not follow his in-laws to Saudi Arabia. Instead, he has been living in the Gulf Arab nation of Qatar, before flying to the island resort nation of Seychelles late last year.

Tunisian courts have convicted Mr. Materi in absentia on corruption charges, and have sentenced him to 16 years in prison and fined him 97 million Tunisian dinars. They have also convicted Ben Ali and his wife, plus other members of the extended clan, of corruption and abuse of power. Known colloquially as “The Family,” the Ben Ali clan is reviled by many Tunisians for their immense wealth and alleged strong-arm tactics in taking over thriving businesses during Mr. Ben Ali’s three-decade rule.

Mr. Ben Ali and his wife haven’t spoken publicly since their flight to Saudi Arabia. But lawyers for the family have said they aren’t guilty of any crimes.

Despite an Interpol warrant for his arrest and the prior conviction in Tunisia, the Seychelles allowed Mr. Materi into the country in December 2012. It is unclear how he was allowed to stay, however, as Tunisian media have reported that he arrived on an expired Tunisian diplomatic passport.

Since then, Seychelles has ducked the insistent requests to expel him to Tunis, citing a lack of extradition treaties between the two nations.

Saudi Arabia also has ignored numerous requests by Tunisia to hand over Mr. Ben Ali and his wife Leila Trabelsi, a former hairdresser turned First Lady.

Tunisia’s new foreign minister, Othman Jerandi, denounced the authorities in Seychelles earlier this week for failing to hand over Mr. Materi. In a phone call Monday to his counterpart in Victoria, Seychelles, he reiterated Tunisia’s promise for fair court hearings against its former rulers, according to Tunisia’s state news agency.

Seychelles, a country that has had its own one-party rule for several years and whose government has a checkered human rights record, has confirmed that it has given Mr. Materi a one-year residency permit, according to the Tunisian government.

Tunisia’s new democratically elected government has won strong international support in its quest to fight financial crimes committed under its former regime – and it has racked up more success than other Arab Spring nations in winning back illicit gains stashed abroad by their former rulers.

Earlier this month, Tunisian authorities received $28 million dollars from the Lebanese government from a bank account kept in Beirut by the president’s wife. Italian authorities have also returned a yacht registered to the wife.

The extended Ben Ali family controlled an estimated one-third of the Tunisian economy by the time that the president was forced out of office in January 2011. Mr. Materi is considered by many Tunisians as one of the most rapacious of the clan, increasing his wealth in dramatic style in part by allegedly pressuring Tunisian partners of foreign owned conglomerates like Nestle SA to sell him their shares.

Mr. Materi also founded a bank, bought a 25% stake in Tunisia’s second-largest telecom operator, got elected to parliament and acquired a media group. But Mr. Materi has insisted that his wealth is due to his business acument, not to his ties to the Ben Ali family. A quote from part of his biography posted on his personal web site before the revolution that unseated Mr. Ben Ali reads: “One may envy his status as son-in-law of the president, but no-one can denigrate him by implying that he only owes his success to [Ben Ali].”

The majority of the citizens of Seychelles do not feel Mr. ASakri El Madri is a deserving case for consideration of neither asylum, citizenship or residential permit. Only a few badly informed in the ruling party have decided otherwise. In other words, the views of the citizens of Seychelles have been completelty ignored. The majority do not believe it is right for the people of our country to be sen taking advantage of the sotlen money from the hard working citizens of Tunisia. This is waht Mr. Madri is doing. And this is not the way our government should manage our affairs - internationally, or domestically. The brave people of Tunisia need our help to repatriate their money back to their country. It is a huge emabrrassment for us abroad to be seen to be acting in this illegal way. Most counried whose had their money fleeced out of their country, illegally, by the unscrupulous, have had to face consequences. Mr. Madri must do the same. He was given a fsir chance to face the court in his country. Instead, he decided to espace. The court was properly convened - and thats why we have to apply the law. One would ask - Why did mr. Madri chose to come to the Seychelles. Why did he not seek solace in say, France, UK, USA - or any other country? Why come to our tiny island the seek protection? Our ruling party in Seychelles are hiding everything away from us. This is why we must continue to protest. We cannot allow our ruling party to do whatever thet want. We may need the help of the Tunisian in the future. We have to get our own money stolen from us and deposited in Swiss Bank, by our ruling party.The Minister or foreign affairs is being silly, telling lies and supported by his cohorts, as usual. The Seychelles prople must not be like lap dogs.It is certain that the Tunisian people would not let this case rests. Madri's movement is being monitored. We in Seychelles should monitor how is Madri paying for his upkeep in the Seychelles? Whio is supporting him? Which bank he gets the money to pay his bills? Keep monitoring and perhaps save our citizens from potential risks. Even our government does not seem to know the damage they are causing to their own citizens. At the end of the day Mr. Sakri El Madri is a convicted criminal, a fugitve and must not be allowed to remain at large in our country - come what may.

The whole Matir affair is a God sent test to our shores. Key officials in PP including JAM are supporting Matir in return for a share of the stolen Tunisian monies. One day and not in the too distant future, these Key PP officials including JAM will find the boot is on the other foot and they will wish they never entertained Martir with his ill-gotton gains. There is a just God looking over us. 100 temp poi le voler un zur po le maitre !

The whole Matir affair is a God sent test to our shores. Key officials in PP including JAM are supporting Matir in return for a share of the stolen Tunisian monies. One day and not in the too distant future, these Key PP officials including JAM will find the boot is on the other foot and they will wish they never entertained Martir with his ill-gotton gains. There is a just God looking over us. 100 temp poi le voler un zur po le maitre !

April 27, 2013 at 9:49 PM, when did Tall fight with Hoareau and Isaac, I must have missed out on some juicy fights. Please fill me in, what happened? Gill met lord dan ou lenmwar avan ou get dan pu lezot party.

SAGGY BOOB You can insult.jump like a monkey when seen bananas,but the fact is undinailable.Whatever ,status that Pp wants to created ,fabricate in its attmept to justifiy the ogvernemnt ^s crooked pratice to grant Materi be it ASYLUM;PERAMENt residency;citizenship IS unconstituional, SO WHATEVER pp JUSTIFICATION ,TI COULD NEVER BE ACCEPTED BY SEYCHELLOIS.For Seychellois it is just another crime added to Pp's crimianl record,And since it is a crime (a pre-meditated crime)Pp thugs will have to face justice.

Pp told us Mateir is illegally on our shores with his family,but Airport personals seem to have seen more that Materi and family but also bodyguards ,servants.Only PASHA his lion seems to be absent.

In a word PISSEDOFF,wahtever PP wants to sell us we are not to buy it,there is one thing pp has to do namely ABIDE to the Constituion and rules of law of our land.Simple as that!Any practices that are unlawful is a crime and Pp thugs would be handle as such.

No we will not leave him in peace until he left our country and bring Tunisien peoples back all their money he has stolen to come to Seychelles sponser Pp criminals like you pissedoff zat maron gran voler de la republic de Seychelles.

If our youths are entering REHABS is not becuase of tons of GRASS pp is confiscating but of HARD DRUGS that PP thugs are selling.Showing tons of Grass while being unable to apprehend one single Pp escobars would have no effect on PP fight on drugs or narco traffics.

Waht would i or we do.Fix the mess PP has created,revoke all illegally obtained passports from foreigners as wellas Land.Bring genuine democracy which means independet judiciray,Assembly acvcountable to the people not ruling aprty,indepednt Elelectoral Commssion whereby members are elected not appoint by President etc...

SFp is already doing a lots--searching for our people billions missing in our coffers,writting to Huamn Rights organisations,etc... What SFP has done and achieved so far in a little than two years goes beyond that of SNP,NDP:DP:boulle combined.You should prasie SFp for his achievement.

To the last two post.We see that you are angrily laughing and clearly not jumping up and down with joy.Everyone is laughing at you,watching you blow gasket to a point of loosig your head completely and going mad.<Do PP not have a substitute for you,so you can get some break or are there not too mant SNP,NDP,Pp cadres left?

Now,you need to wake up your dreaming brain and deal with realities than sleep walking.

On jeanne is a man maron.It seems you would like to have a gender change.Go for it!But do not try to change others' gender.

Stop selling your(our)birthrights for a mess of pottage PP,SNP,NDP,DP,boulle.

AS TO GAPPY--He should just come out and tell us that "i am too incompetent to perform duties which have been so unexpectedly thrown upon me".

Exposing NDP,PP,SNP ,lUCAS,is not a distraction,but a pain in their arses..Pp on the hand,is always trying to distract us from the mess it creates by talking about climate change as if Michel is going to solve it not big industrial countries,Doemocracy as if dictatorship is synonymous to dictatorship etc...

Have you seen the economic prognostic oF Pp?*Weak currency and strong GDP growth"

Usually a weak currency should boost trade surpluses,attract tourists,thus help reduce deficits, increase exports,reduce unemployment.Usually a weak currency is best when coming out of reccession etc.. but under PP thugtocracy it produces the opposite results.

WEll,Pissy,Because PP uses Nominal GDP thus unadjustable for inflation.Why high growth,it is not becuase our currency is weak therefore have attracted more tourists(which should have been the case)but rather because our citizens have been spending more on local products(Foreign good too expensive)thus creating a high growth which also resulted in a meager appreciation of rupee.In other word STRONG "NOMINAL" GDP GROWTH MEANS WEAK CURRENCY.

How,waht is the best situation for our country economy ,a strong or weak currency?Both have pros and cons,In the midtime a weak currency fits best to deal with the recession,but on the long term,i beleive Seychelles would be better off ,if it has a STABLE RATE,thus what would fits best for a small economy would be by having a FIXED EXCHANGE RATE.

Pp is puffing the magic dragon.No sign of betterment in our economy.And if PP let things as it is we going to end up like Greece.

You noted also the iiresponsible practices by PUC--after Miche lhas allowed foreigners to destoyed hectars of forest,PUC is now poluating our beach and PP wants to minimize the catastroph.Weeks ago reef in front of CERF was being bulldosed.now PUC poluated our beaches.But the most concerning in the immediate and long term engative on reefs(Corals).Chemicals that are being use to disperse oil of beaches are very toxic to corals,thus the whole reefs in Ste Anne National is at risks.And both Pp and PUC seems to be really taking all actions needed to miniminize the risks.

Stay on the issue--SFP pushes El Materi issue to Wall Street.Hearing the news Michel and clics must be scratching his head with anger,for it would further expose Pp rogue regime.Pp is the airtight cage.

Keep on puffing Zeanne, but you will never blow PP away. One day you will learn to accept us and eat from our hands. Beacuse you shall fall from that chimney you are climbing upon and straight into the boiling water.

Was it not Gary Tall who is posting these articles on El Materi who wrote on JPI facebook page to back off the issue and leave the guy in peace.

I wonder sometimes if this Tall guy is really supporting Gill or just a sent item to ruin Gill's Party.

Last time he was fighting Cecile Hoareau and now he is fighting Isaac.

No wonder people stopped all comments on Gill and Isaac's Facebook Page.

April 27, 2013 at 9:49 PM

Your answer

A bad member of any political party can take good members and destroy, causing the righteous members and future members to flee. NOW WHOSE LOSS THIS IS? AND WHO WILL GAIN FROM YOUR LOSS? ‘PP’ ?

This is what's happening in SFP. Have anyone noticed, since Garie Tall & Wong Song joins SFP no one commenting on Zean-Pol’s wall or Mr Gill’s wall anymore. Not even like. Mr Gill, be extra careful that your dogs does not bite you in the ass. Tie them securely on a chain away from your members. You will never win election with morons.

Zandarc known as Garie Todd is so obnoxious; he thinks sunshine out of his poofy ass!

I really think that people should show some respect here. If you have nothing concrete to share stay away from here.

Our country is in chaos, good or Bad Jeanne D'Arc whoever she or he is, is not relevant. He/she giving his/her time to our country for free of charge. RESPECT, UNITE IS THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE THIS COUNTRY.

Yet gain the reputation of the citizens of Seychelles continue to take a downturn regarding the Sakri El Madri affairs. This is thanks to the activites of their government. It is reported that the Tunisian government is highly unlikely to drop the case against Mr. Madri. It is reported widely that the Tunisian government is seriously considering a case regarding potential money laundering against the Seychelles. It is said that, should the money obatined by Mr. Madri illegally would not be allowed to be transfered over to the Seychelles people. As money laundering is a world wide illegal act. Any money obtained illegally from the Tunisian people would be seen as money laundering; whether this is used to buy properties or other goods. The Tunisian government is well aare of the recent AlJezzera team's report concerning the activities of the Seychelles whe, so far nothing appeared to have been done to correct. It is reported that the Tunisians are undertaking multiple approaches to gain the return of Mr. Madri from Seychelles together with the stolen money. One wonders what legal advice was obtained by the government of Seychelles from our AG? What advice was given to the Minister of Foreign Affairs concerning this horrible situation. Should we all be embarrassed?

4.14PMMr Tall is a Patriot,not a sell out to your likes.He is wrok hard to unmask the thieves invovle in robbing 2,5 billions from our coffer.Probably a pain in Pp's ar..!

Dr Faure,- acting president- is in UAE ,trying to build the same slavish relationship with Khalifa in order to continue the Butcher's sell out and neo-colonilism policy.

Under Pp it is clear Seychelles is not long a Nation ,but has become SEYCHELLES HOTEL for foreigners.( Seychellois have become Sacrificial lambs for slaughter).But acting dictator Faure should know that,Seychellois will not let marons to his likes enslave them,sell them out anymore.

On El materi

Like Lucas El Materi is tarnishing our country's image.By the way,the Algerain governemnt had deported AISHA Ghadafi and family ,they have now found refuge in OMAN.Maybe soon to Seychelles as El Amteri ,then PP can give them illegal Asylum,make them the cash cow.Asad of Syria might also be interested in buying Seychelles citizenship.it seems the sell out season will be longer under future self-made President Faure.

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Freedom Loving Seychellois Welcome note

VICTORIA, MAHE, SEYCHELLES

A group of Seychellois dedicated to real democracy for our beloved Seychelles. Our goal is to free our country from the grips of the SPPF-Parti Lepep Government led by Albert Rene and James Michel, the two traitors who stole our country's freedom on that darkest day in our history - 5th June 1977. We will not rest until true democracy and freedom are returned to our shores. We want our fellow citizens to share information pertaining to crime and corruption by the members of this Government, past and present. This is a forum to do so and let us bring these criminals to justice. Post with words and images and let us take our country back. As Seychellois, we can no longer sit idly by and watch the corrupt SPPF-Lepep and their foreign conspirators destroy our country while they fill their foreign bank accounts. It is time for change, and we will do it peacefully at the ballot box starting in 2011. May God bless Seychelles and all freedom loving Seychellois.